Compressed air operated dispenser with air compression piston means movable laterally of the dispenser

ABSTRACT

A compressed air actuated dispensing device has a valve assembly having a valve body with a compressed air flow path therethrough and a valve member movable in the valve body and obturating the compressed air flow path. Aspirating means is provided at one end of the compressed air flow path, and a product containing means in the device feeds product through a product flow path to the aspirating means. A hollow elongated compression chamber portion has one end around the other end of the compressed air flow path, and a piston means is movable into and out of the compression chamber portion transversely of the direction of elongation thereof for compressing air therein. Extension means on the valve member is engageable by the piston means when the piston means is at the extreme inward end of its movement for moving the valve member for opening the compressed air flow path only after air in the compression chamber portion has been compressed.

United States Patent [1 1 Riccio [75] Inventor: Pasquale R. Riccio,Salem, NH.

[73] Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation, Ardsley,

[22] Filed: Feb. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 331,877

Related Application Data [63] Continuationin-part of Ser. No. 240,025,March 3i,

1972, abandoned.

s21 U.S.Cl ..222/193,222/37s,239/321,

239/357 51] Int. Cl ..B67d 5/54 58 FieldofSearch 222/193, 373, 378,

[ Jan. 15, 1974 623,404 5/1949 Great Britain 239/355 PrimaryExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin Att0rneyE. F.Wenderoth et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A compressed air actuated dispensing device has a valveassembly having a valve body with a compressed air flow paththerethrough and a valve member movable in the valve body and obturatingthe compressed air flow path. Aspirating means is provided at one end ofthe compressed air flow path, and a product containing means in thedevice feeds product through a product flow path to the aspiratingmeans. A hollow elongated compression chamber 'portion has one endaround the other end of the compressed air flow path, and a piston meansis-movable into and out of the compression chamber portion transverselyof the direction of elongation thereof for compressing air therein.Extension means on the valve member is engageable by the piston meanswhen the piston means [5 6] References Cited is at the extreme inwardend of its movement for mov- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing the valve memberfor opening the compressed air 3,369,757 2/1968 Boris 239/355 flow pathonly after air in the compression chamber FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS has been mpressed 491,367 8/1938 Great Britain 239/355 5Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 2 4 1 19 9o6l47l |I2 264-b 3 b :1 fl 46 9 |5it] u a :I so [0 PATENTEn JAN 1 51974 SHEET 2 [IF 2 FIG.6

IIIIII/ III 7 w Wm w W i m i? COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED DISPENSER WITH AIRCOMPRESSION PISTON MEANS MOVABLE LATERALLY OF THE DISPENSER Thisapplication is'a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 240,025,Filed Mar. 31, 1972 now abandoned.

This invention relates to dispensers for fluids, and more particularlyto a compact hand held device for building up the pressure of compressedair until it reaches a predetermined value, at which point it issuddenly released to aspirate a fluid and dispense it as a spray. Thedevice of the invention .has an easily actuated means for compressingair.

PRIOR ART There has recently been developed a type of dispenser forfluids which utilized compressed air for dispensing fluids in the formof a spray. This dispenser gradually builds up the pressure of air, andwhen a predetermined pressure has been reached, the compressed air isreleased suddenly for aspirating the fluid product as a spray.

There are many advantages to such a dispenser, among which are the factthat a conventional aerosol type propellant such as Freon, is necessary,whereby possible harm to users of the dispenser due to inhalation of theFreon propellant after it has been used to dispense the fluid isavoided. A further advantage is that such dispensers have a shelf-lifelimitation only by the shelf-life of the fluid product to be dispensed,since the air used to dispense theproduct is compressed by the user ofthe dispenser for each dispensing action. Such dispensers are disclosedin copending applications Ser. No. 44,694, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,345,and Ser. No. 90,897, Nov. Il, 1970; 139,027, now U.S. Pat. No.3,733,0I0, and others.

In all of the various forms of the device as disclosed in the previouslyfiled applications, the piston means for compressing the air movesaxially of the elongated body of the device, or alternatively theelongated body moves axially of the piston means. While this issatisfactory for many uses, it often occurs that the particular productto be dispensed by the device requires the device to be held in such aposition that it is awkward for the user to exert pressure on the partsof the device. For example, when the dispensing nozzle for dispensingthe spray opens out of the end of the device, that end cannot have afinger or thumb placed thereover to exert axial pressure on the device.Technical progress would be achieved if a form of this type of dispensercould be developed in which the piston means was movable in the devicein a direction in which the user could move his fingers more naturallyand easily, and particularly if the finger movement were a squeezingmovement.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF'SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of thepresent invention to provide an inproved fluid product dispenser'ofthe-type described above which has the air compressionmeans movable in adirection transverse to the axis of the elongated body of the device. I

It is a furtherobject of the invention to provide an improved fluidproduct dispenser of the type described above in which the aircompression means can be actuated by either a single finger of aplurality of fingers of the user by a squeezing action of the finger orfingers.

These objects are achieved by the provision of a fluid product dispensercomprising a valve assembly having an elongated valve body which has acompressed air flow path therethrough, a valve member movable in thevalve body and obturating the compressed air flow path, aspirating meansat one end of-the compressed air flow path, the other end of thecompressed air flow path opening out of the valve body remote from saidaspirating means, a product containing means in the device and a productflow path through the device from the product containing means to theaspirating means. A hollow enclosure is attached to the end of the valvebody over the said other end of the compressed air flow path, and anelongated piston means is movable into the hollow enclosure in adirection transverse to the axis of the valve body and the hollowenclosure, and a flexible sealing diaphragm is provided around thepiston means for sealing off the opening through which the piston meansmoves into and out of the enclosure for urging the piston means out ofthe enclosure. The piston means engages the valve means after it hasmoved into the enclosure sufficiently far to build up the pressure ofthe air within the enclosure in order to open the valve means to allowthe compressed air to flow along the compressed air flow path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention will now be described ingreater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device according to theinvention with the .parts in the rest or non-dispensing positions;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view ofa part of the de vice;

FIG. Sis a view similar to FIG. 1 with the parts in the dispensingpositions; I

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the device; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The device as shown in the figurescomprises a body portion 1, a conpression chamber portion 2, and a rearportion 3, all generally axially aligned. In the disclosed embodiment,body portion 1 is generally cylindrical and is either one piece ofintegrally joined, for example by plastic welding to compression chamberportion 2. Projecting out of the compression chamber portion 2 is anactuating bar 4 which forms part of a piston means which is movable intoand out of the compression chamber portion 2 in a manner to be describedhereinafter.

Within the body portion 1 is one arrangement of valve means, aspiratingmeans and product container means with which the compression chamber 2and actuating bar 4 can be used. The arrangement comprises a valve body5, shown in detail in FIG. 4, having a longitudinally extending passage6 therein which opens out of the bottom of the valve body in an enlargedrecess 7. The other end of the valve body 5 has a'further recess 8therein. I

Aspirating means in the form of a Venturi nozzle insert 9 has a smallerdiameter portion 9a positioned in the recess 8 and extending forwardlyof the end of valve body Boss 19 integrally formed on the inside of bodyportion 1 has a central aperture therein into which the larger portion9b of the Venturi nozzle is tightly fitted.

A The space around the extending portions of the smaller diameterportion 9a defined between the boss 19 and the extending portionconstitutes a product supply chamber 10 around the nozzle insert. Thepassage 6 forms a compressed air path through the body portion 1 fromthe recess 7 to the recess 8.

The bottom of the valve body 5 fits ihto a recess in an apertured frontwall 22 against an apertured valve seat member 11, in the bottom of therecess and within the recess 7 over the valve seat member is a poppetvalve member 12 which is urged toward the valve seat member 11 by areturn spring 14 positioned in the recess 7. Depending from the poppetvalve member 12 through the aperture in the valve seat member 11 and thefront wall 22 is a poppet valve actuating pin 15.

The front end of the valve body 5 has a plate 16 thereon having fluidproduct flow apertures 17 therein, the portions of the disc between theapertures 17 forming spokes which support the rim of plate 16. The rimfits tightly against the inside of the wall of body portion 1. The wallof body portion 1 and the valve body 5 define between them a productcontaining space 18 from which fluid product flows through apertures 17to the product supply chamber 10. The fluid product flow apertures 17are obturated by a flat annular gasket 10a which has the outer peripheryheld tightly between plate 16 and boss 19 and in its normal conditionfits tightly against the front face of plate 16 and seals apertures 17.The inner edge of the gasket 10a is free to flex forwardly into theproduct supply chamber 10.

A mouthpiece extension 20-forming part of the body 1 extends from theboss 19 in a direction away from the nozzle insert 9, and is adapted tobe received in the mouth of the user of the device.

The other end of the product containing space 18 is closed by the frontwall 22 which seats tightly against the inner periphery 17a of the endof body portion 1 and within the compression chamber 2. in this device,the front wall 22 is integral with an anti-twist bar 21, which has thesame cross-sectional configuration as the bottom interior configurationof the compression chamber portion 2. In the embodiment shown in thefigures, the compression chamber portion is elongated in the directionof the length of the body portion and has a generally U-shapedcross-section hollow interior, the open top of the U being towards theactuating bar 4. The actuating pin extends through the front wall intothe interior of the compression chamber portion.

A flat top wall 24 covers the top or open end of the U-shapedcompression chamber portion and an aperture 25 is provided therein. Theactuating bar 4 is positioned in the aperture, and is comprised of twoparts, a finger pressure receiving part 40 which is toward the outsideof the device, and a flange 4b extending laterally of the part 4a in theinterior of the compression chamber portion. The actuating bar 4 has apiston body 46 on the inner end thereof. An rectangular piston diaphragm26 is positioned between the piston body 46 and the under surface of theflange 4b, the peripheral edge being in sliding sealing engagement withthe inner surfaces of the wall of the compression chamber portion andthe front wall and the wall of the rear portion 3. Flange 4b extends toa point close to the walls of the compression chamber, so that diaphragm26 cannot flex upwardly. However, the sides of piston body 46 are spacedfrom the walls of the compression chamber to allow the diaphragm 26 toflex downwardly to permit air return on the outward stroke of the pistonmeans. Resting against the under side of the piston body 46 is ananti-twist bar 29, which is a U-shaped bar having the ends of the Uresting against the piston body 46, and having a relatively longstraight portion forming the bottom of the U extending along a retainingslot 211; in the retainer 21. A return piston spring 32 is providedbetween the bottom of piston body 46 and the bottom of the compressionchamber portion 2. lt will be seen that the actuating bar 4, the pistonbody 46 and the diaphragm 26, together form a piston means and thepiston means, the retainer 21 bar and the bar 29 can be assembled andcompressed into an assembly which can be inserted into the compressionchamber portion 2 before the rear portion 3 is added. The fingerpressure receiving part 4a is then released and projects through theaperture 25.

The end of the compression chamber portion 2 opposite the end from whichthe valve body portion 1 extends is closed by the rear portion 3, whichis simply a cap having the same cross-sectional shape as the compressionchamber portion 2. The compression chamber portion 2 is attached to thevalve body portion 1 and the rear portion 3 is attached to thecompression chamber 2 by welding, a snap fit, or other means common inthe art.

On the end of the piston body 46 toward the valve body portion is apoppet valve actuator 31, which engages the poppet valve actuating pin15 when the piston means has been pushed into the interior ofthecompression chamber portion 2 sufficiently far to compress air thereinto the desired pressure.

In operation, the parts of the device are normally as shown in FIGS. 1and 2. When pressure is exerted on the actuating bar 4, the pistonmeans'is forced into the space 30 within the compression chamber portion2 against the resistance of the spring 32, while the antitwist bar 29prevents the piston means from twisting, i.e. one end moving down fasterthan the other. When the piston means reaches the innermost position inwhich air within the compression chamber portion 2 is compressedsufficiently to aspirate the desired amount of product, the actuator 31strikes the actuating pin 15, thus opening the poppet valve, as shown inFIG. 3. The compressed air then flows through the passage 6 and throughthe nozzle insert 9. As it flows through the Venturi in the nozzleinsert, it aspirates product from the product containing space 18through the fluid product flow appertures 17. When reduced pressure iscreated in product supply chamber 10, the product, which is atatmospheric pressure acts against the inner edge of the annular gasket10a flexing it inwardly. The product thus passes the inner periphery ofthe gasket 10a and flows into the product supply chamber from where itis aspirated. It is preferred to tilt the device so that the rearportion is elevated. This insures that product will always press againstand escape past gasket 10a.

When aspiration is completed, sufficient air will flow back into theproduct containing space 18 to releive the vacuum therein. This isaccomplished by the inertia of the inner periphery of gasket 10a.Alternatively, vacuum relief means can be provided separately. When thepressure onthe actuating bar is released, and the return spring 32 urgesthe piston means out of the space 30 within the compressionchamberportion 2.

7 When the actuating bar 4 is being pressed inwardly, the edge of theflange 4b presses against the diaphragm 26, and the diaphragm pressesagainst the walls of the compression chamber portion 2 with its naturalresilience, thus preventing air 'within the space 3 in the compressionchamber portion from escaping past the diaphragm 26. However, when thepressure on the actuating bar is released, the atmospheric pressureforces the diaphragm 26 downwardly away from the flange 4b, allowing airto enter the space 30 to relieve the vacuum.

It will be seen that the position of the actuating bar is such that itis easy for the user of the device to simply wrap his hand around thecompression chamber portion 2 and bring the fingers to bear on theactuating bar. Simply squeezing the device will press the actuating bar.The actuating bar acts as a large piston, movable transversely of thedirection of elongation of the compression chamber portion. It is easyand convenient for the user to place the mouthpiece extension in hismouth with the hand wrapped around the device. This eliminates theawkward manipulation which would be necessary if pressure had to beexerted by the thumb against the end of the device while one end of itis in the mouth. A

It should be understood that while a specific form of the valve body 5,nozzle insert 9, product supply space 18, etc.- have been described,this form can be altered to any of the forms shown in the copendingapplications described hereinbefore, or' to any other convenient form,without departing from the scope of the invention. The actuating bararrangement can be used with any of the other arrangements of valvebody, nozzle insert etc.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing device comprising: a valve assembly having a valve body,said body having a compressed air flow path therethrough; a valve'member movable in said valve body and obturating said compressed airflow path; aspirating means at one end of the said compressed air flowpath, the other end of the compressed other end of the compressed airflow path, and a piston means movable into and out of said compressionchamber portion transversely of the direction of elongation thereof andin sealing relationship with said compression chamber portion forcompressing air therein, said piston means extending out of thecompression chamber portion; and extension means on said valve memberand engageable by said piston means when the piston means is at theextreme inward end of its movement for moving said valve member relativeto said valve body for opening said compressed air flow path only afterair in said compression chamber portion has been compressed. g

2. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 in which said valve memberextension means extends into said compression chamber, and said pistonmeans comprises a piston body having a valve actuator thereon which,when the piston means is at the inner-most extent of its inward movementengages said extension means for tilitng said valve member for openingsaid compressed air flow path.

3. A dispensing device as claimed in claim I in which said piston meanscomprises a piston body and said device further comprises an anti-twistbar between said piston body and the interior of the hollow compressionchamber portion, said bar preventing said piston body from being twistedas said piston body is moved inwardly and outwardly of the compressionchamber portion.

4. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 in which said compressionchamber portion has an aperture therein through which said piston meansmoves, and said device further comprising a diaphragm attached aroundsaid piston means for. sealing engagement with the interior of saidcompression chamber portion when said piston means is being movedinwardly of said compression chamber portion.

5. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising valvingmeans in said product flow path, said device having an annular chamberaround said aspirating means through which said product flow path flows,and said valving means being an annular gasket, said product containingmeans having an apertured plate defining one end thereof and theapertures insaid plate opening into said annular chamber, said annulargasket being against said plate and normally covering said apertures andhaving the outer periphery fixed and the inner'periphery free to distortinto the annular chamber and pass product when subjected to a pressuredifferential thereacross.

1. A dispensing device comprising: a valve assembly having a valve body,said body having a compressed air flow path therethrough; a valve membermovable in said valve body and obturating said compressed air flow path;aspirating means at one end of the said compressed air flow path, theother end of the compressed air flow path opening out of the valve bodyremote from said aspirating means; a product containing means in saiddevice and said device having a product flow path therethrough from saidproduct containing means to said aspirating means; a hollow elongatedcompression chamber portion with one end around the other end of thecompressed air flow path, and a piston means movable into and out ofsaid compression chamber portion transversely of the direction ofelongation thereof and in sealing relationship with said compressionchamber portion for compressing air therein, said piston means extendingout of the compression chamber portion; and extension means on saidvalve member and engageable by said piston means when the piston meansis at the extreme inward end of its movement for moving said valvemember relative to said valve body for opening said compressed air flowpath only after air in said compression chamber portion has beencompressed.
 2. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 in which saidvalve member extension means extends into said compression chamber, andsaid piston means comprises a piston body having a valve actuatorthereon which, when the piston means is at the inner-most extent of itsinward movement engages said extension means for tilting said valvemember for opening said compressed air flow path.
 3. A dispensing deviceas claimed in claim 1 in which said piston means comprises a piston bodyand said device further comprises an anti-twist bar between said pistonbody and the interior of the hollow compression chamber portion, saidbar preventing said piston body from being twisted as said piston bodyis moved inwardly and outwardly of the compression chamber portion.
 4. Adispensing device as claimed in claim 1 in which said compressionchamber portion has an aperture therein through which said piston meansmoves, and said device further comprising a diaphragm attached aroundsaid piston means for sealing engagement with the interior of saidcompression chamber portion when said piston means is being movedinwardly of said compression chamber portion.
 5. A dispensing device asclaimed in claim 1 further comprising valving means in said product flowpath, said device having an annular chamber around said aspirating meansthrough which said product flow path flows, and said valving means beingan annular gasket, said product containing means having an aperturedplate defining one end thereof and the apertures in said plate openinginto said annular chamber, said annular gasket being against said plateand normally covering said apertures and having the outer peripheryfixed and the inner periphery free to distort into the annular chamberand pass product when subjected to a pressure differential thereacrOss.